DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
: This work centers on the relationship between bridge structure, construction
methods and timberwork, coming from the processes of design and manufacturing. In this
project, I intend to discover and develop different characteristics of different structures and
materials and create works that are visually powerful using different visual languages.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
: My aim was to use all the works and structures that I have created to link all my designs.
The minimum components I had designed are linked and by connecting all the
components in a certain pattern, I was able to demonstrate and present my topic. I followed the basic components of bridge design and developed a unique three-dimensional structure.
DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
: For me, a piece of furniture is a miniature building. I had obtained different types of
professional knowledge and in the future, I will integrate this knowledge and make it the
core of my creations.
DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
: As I said in the previous question, my aim was to use all the works and structures that I have created to link all my designs. The inspiration of the design came from a very important experience of my past live working as an architect and at that time I was working on designing a bridge. This experience gave me a huge influence thus I brought that to my later furnitures.
DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
: It’s not being produced or used by any companies and I intent to produce your work myself.
DI: What made you design this particular type of work?
: The design as I mentioned, was inspired by the experience from my previous professional work. And also I wanted to add a little bit more challenge for myself, transforming the concept from a much larger object to a piece of furniture and here’s what I did.
DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
: Sure there are many important chair designs in the history and all of them have their own impact on me but as for the inspiration, it’s all myself.
DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
: Usually designer tends to use something stronger to make a piece of furniture, at least something that’s being able to hold a human’s weight, but I went another route. I used the wood strip that are not entirely strong if you see it separately but I used the techniques and the knowledge that I learned to create a structure that made the combination of these wood strip incredibly strong and comfortable.
DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
: Bridge DNA is from my knowledge of transforming the bridge into furniture. DNA represents the core of the structure of a bridge.
DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
: I succeeded in putting my ideas into practice conceptually and practically. Complex structures can show the power of structure. Visually, it can show the uniqueness of the concept and it is light and firm at the same
DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
: No, I made the piece solely. But I appreciate my professors Richard Tannen, Andy Buck and Juan Carlos Caballero-Perez who gave me some valuable advices during the process.
DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
: Laminate bending and knowledge of designing and building a bridge.
DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
: Probably not that much. I had to do a lot of research during the process of course but those were mainly about the structures of bridges.
DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
: The process of transforming the idea to a real piece of work is not easy. Although I have the experience and knowledge of how to build a bridge, but using wood strip to present the work is not that easy. Wood strip is very unstable and they could be broken or twisted easily.
I’ve done numerous calculation and experiments on the size, structure and everything before actual crafting it but there were no guarantee until it is completed. I was glad it came out just the way I wanted.
DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
: I was very confident with my work and I wanted it to be seen as much as possible. International design competition is the best way to go.
DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
: During the process of design, my goal changed. At first, my goal was to create the work
with bridge DNA, and then my goal changed to utilize bridge DNA help me develop my work. This shift in goal took place organically. At the early stage, I focused on the work
with bridge DNA, put too much of my experience into the work and tried to connect my
experience to my work, which was stiffly reflected in the stiffness of my early projects,
and resulted in several limitations. The characteristics of a bridge were imposed on the
furniture so the structure was reasonable, but not natural. In my later works, a more
appropriate process was established. I focused on the most important things in the process,
thus the characteristics of a bridge were naturally presented, making the work conform to
the theme of bridge DNA.
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
: Thank you for giving me the opportunity. I am glad my beautiful work is now being able to get in front of a larger audience.